Bird Flu Detected In Wastewater In San Diego County

SAN DIEGO, CA — San Diego County has become the fifth location in the state to report the environmental detection of H5 influenza virus or "bird flu," public health officials announced Monday.

The virus was detected in wastewater testing on Sept. 1, but there have been no confirmed human cases, according to Public Health Services.

The detection in the county does not confirm the presence of a human H5 infection, the presence of live H5N1 virus, or the presence of the H5N1 B3.13 strain, also known as "Cattle Clade," which is currently circulating in cattle and occasionally causing human disease in farm workers.

"San Diego County has a robust flu surveillance system," said Dr. Ankita Kadakia, county interim public health officer. "While we have no evidence of the virus in people or animals, it is important to be transparent with the public both about the detection status and that we are vigilant and working with our partners at the California Department of Public Health, California Department of Food and Agriculture, and California Department of Fish and Wildlife to monitor for signs of H5 presence locally."

The county has a closed sewage system, which reduces the probability that this detection is from an environmental source such as migrating birds.

The virus may have been introduced into wastewater by discarding of contaminated animal products, infected wild bird droppings entering the sewage system, human infection or animal infection, officials said.